Bridge Mentorship

Founded in 2009, AIA Chicago’s Bridge mentorship program connects AIA Fellows with rising professionals in their first three-to-ten years of practice. It offers an eight-month curriculum of curated programs coupled with informal, one-on-one meetings.

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AIA Mentorship Program

About Bridge Mentorship

Founded in 2009, AIA Chicago’s Bridge program connects AIA Fellows and rising professionals within their first three-to-ten years of practice. It offers an eight-month curriculum of curated programs coupled with informal, one-on-one meetings between mentors and mentees. The program fosters mentorship, inspires leadership, and encourages AIA members to reinterpret and evaluate the trajectory of the practice. The result is a dynamic, multi-generational network of Chicago architects who continue to learn from one another long after the program ends.

Each selected Bridge participant is paired with a local AIA Fellow acting as their mentor. The program incorporates informal social events and organized mentorship discussions focusing on past experiences, career development, and the future of the architectural profession. Throughout the program, the mentors and mentees will also meet in a one-on-one setting to informally discuss specific professional goals while further developing and strengthening their relationship.

This program intends to Bridge the gap between the need for mentorship in our profession and the ability of experienced architects to pass on what they have learned to the future generation of architects.

Ideal Applicant

Candidates for mentees must have a minimum of three years of post-graduate work experience, with preference given to candidates that have five years or more.

Applications Now Open

Applications Open: Tuesday, July 11, 2023 
Applications Close:
Friday, August 11, 2023

Apply Now
"Bridge has without question been the singular most important thing in my career as an architect, and I hope it can be that for each and every participant."
Carl Sergio, AIA

2023-2024 Schedule

Tuesday, July 11: Bridge Applications Open 
Friday, August 11: Bridge Application Deadline 
Wednesday, September 13: Bridge Mentee Orientation  
Wednesday, October 18: Kick-Off Event  
Wednesday, October 25: Speed Pairing  
Wednesday, November 15: Bridge Session 1  
Wednesday, December 13: Bridge Session 2  
Thursday, January 18: Bridge Session 3: Guest Speaker  
Wednesday, February 21: Bridge Session 4  
Thursday, March 21: Bridge Session 5: Pecha Kucha  
Wednesday, April 17: Bridge Session 6  
Thursday, May 9: Closing Reception

Bridge Mentorship Leadership

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Co-Director

Rebecca Brouk, AIA

Soucie Horner, Ltd.
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Co-Director

Rachel Killion, AIA

Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture
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Co-Director

Jessie LaFree, AIA

SPACE Architects + Planners
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Co-Director

Carl Sergio, AIA

IA Interior Architects

Thank you to our Bridge Sponsors:

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